go - thesaurus entry

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90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

verb

1
to move or travel to a place that is away from where you are now
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To go on a journey: go, travel, come, explore, get around, roam, see the world, bum around, island-hop, do... more
1. a.
  to leave a place
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  General words meaning to leave a place: leave, move on, go away, get away, draw out, come away, abandon... more
2. b.
  to move or travel to a place, or to leave a place, in order to do a particular thing
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  To go on a journey: go, travel, come, explore, get around, roam, see the world, bum around, island-hop, do... more
3. c.
  to move in a particular way or while doing a particular thing
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  To go somewhere, or to move in a particular direction: head, go, progress, carry on, flow, walk on, move, pass, press, forge ahead... more
4. d.
  to travel to a place along a particular road or as part of a transportation service
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  To travel in a vehicle: go, ride, commute, come up, go down, hitch, shuttle, hitchhike, cover, cruise... more
2
to travel to a particular place regularly in order to take part in an activity
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To travel in a vehicle: go, ride, commute, come up, go down, hitch, shuttle, hitchhike, cover, cruise... more
3
to continue from one place or time to another
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To go somewhere, or to move in a particular direction: head, go, progress, carry on, flow, walk on, move, pass, press, forge ahead... more
4
to happen in a particular way
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To happen in a particular way: play out, go, go off, pan out, pass off, run, fall into place... more
5
to be usually kept or put in a particular place
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To be in a particular position or place: occupy, set, exist, lie, sit, stand, there is/are etc., concentrate, belong, get... more
1. a.
  if something goes in a particular place, it fits there because it is the right size or shape
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  To be in a particular position or place: occupy, set, exist, lie, sit, stand, there is/are etc., concentrate, belong, get... more
2. b.
  to be suitable, right, or attractive in a particular place or in a particular combination
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  To be good enough or as good as expected: satisfy, fit in with, suit, qualify, measure up, match up, live up to, come up to, lend itself to something, speak for itself... more
6
to change to another condition, usually a worse one
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To become different: change, turn into, become, alter, convert, change into, diversify, shift, tend, go into... more
1. a.
  to be in a particular state or situation, especially one in which you do not have something or in which something is not done
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  Linking verbs: appear, be, become, come over, feel, form, get, go, grow, look... more
7
to start being in a worse state, or to stop working correctly as a result of becoming old or damaged
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To become worse: worsen, decline, deteriorate, deepen, escalate, descend into, spiral, degenerate, go down, slip into... more
8
spoken to die
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To die or to be killed: die, pass away, suffocate, drown, starve, lose your life, lay down your life, perish, expire, breathe your last (breath)... more
9
to be sent
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To go somewhere, or to move in a particular direction: head, go, progress, carry on, flow, walk on, move, pass, press, forge ahead... more
10
if time goes in a particular way, it passes in that way
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
The passing of time: passing, go by, wear on, tick away, elapse, intervene, creep by, slip by, time flies, the passage of time... more
11
to be spent
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To use something, or to be used: use, bring in, fall back on, draw on, go toward, consume, utilize, exploit, apply... more
1. a.
  if a supply of something goes, it becomes less because more and more of it is used
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  To disappear, or to stop existing or happening: disappear, finish, go away, die, stop, fade away, vanish, dissolve, evaporate, cease... more
2. b.
  to be gotten rid of
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  To disappear, or to stop existing or happening: disappear, finish, go away, die, stop, fade away, vanish, dissolve, evaporate, cease... more
3. c.
  to disappear
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  To disappear, or to stop existing or happening: disappear, finish, go away, die, stop, fade away, vanish, dissolve, evaporate, cease... more
12
to leave a job or organization, especially because you are forced to
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
Leaving a job: resign, retire, stand down, bow out, step aside, quit, vacate, leave, give/hand in (your) notice, hand in your notice/resignation... more
13
to make a particular sound, especially the typical sound of a particular animal
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To make a sound: sound, tap out, let out, pitch, break, go, emit, utter, voice... more
1. a.
  mainly British to make a sound as a signal
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  To make a sound: sound, tap out, let out, pitch, break, go, emit, utter, voice... more
14
to move in a particular way
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To go somewhere, or to move in a particular direction: head, go, progress, carry on, flow, walk on, move, pass, press, forge ahead... more
15
to consist of a particular series of words, facts, or musical notes
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To be a feature or example of something: feature, enter into, characterize, exemplify, typify, epitomize, represent, define, embody, come down to... more
16
very informal used when you are telling a story for saying what someone has said
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
Expressions used when telling stories: it all began, once upon a time, well, oh, now, there I was/we were, with that, someone does something, the long and the short of it, to be continued, to make/cut a long story short... more
17
to begin doing something
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To start doing something: begin, start on, set about, get down to, get around to, go to, take over, start, take up, dive in... more
18
to continue or last for a particular amount of time while doing something
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To continue for a particular amount of time: last, extend, go back, last out, span, stretch, run, go, clock in at... more
19
if a machine or piece of equipment goes, it operates correctly
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
Engine and machine behaviour: backfire, burn up, cut out, cycle, engagement, fire, flood, go, grind, idle... more
20
to be sold
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To be sold or for sale: sell, fetch, retail, go for, come, go, outsell, sell out, go/sell like hot cakes, come/go under the hammer... more
21
to pay or accept a particular amount of money for something
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To spend or to pay money: disburse, spend, pay, pay out, finance, fund, invest in, put up, bear the cost/expense etc.... more
22
spoken to go to the toilet
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
Going to the toilet: bedwetting, bowel movement, bursting, constipated, constipation, crap, defecate, dry, egestion, evacuate... more

phrases

as someone/something goes
when you consider what other people or things of the same type are like
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
Ways of comparing things: than, relatively, whereas, compared with/to, by/in contrast, next to, relative, the... the..., seen against something... more
be going to do something
1. 1
  to intend to do something
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  To intend to do something: intend, aim, plan on, mean, start out, propose, have big ideas/plans, be going to do something, envisage... more
2. 2
  to be about to do something
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  To be about to do or experience something: come up for, come up to, build up to, hover, be in for a treat, be in for a shock, be about to do something, be going to do something, be in for something... more
don’t go doing something
spoken
used for telling someone not to do something
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
Ways of encouraging or telling someone to do something: I wish, go for it, don’t hesitate to do something, come on, (do you) understand?, want, go on, be to do something, someone would be well advised to do something, shoot... more
go all out (to do something/for something)
to try as hard as you can to achieve something
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To try hard to do or get something: try, work, strive, attempt, try for, struggle, go after, strain, push for, press for... more
go all the way
informal
to have sex with someone
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To have sex: sleep with, consummate, copulate, bed, make love, be intimate with someone, spend the night with someone, sleep together, lie with, jump into bed with someone... more
go and do something
spoken
used for saying that someone has done something silly or annoying
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
Ways of saying someone is stupid or silly: grow up, don’t encourage someone, hello, duh, someone must be mad (to do something), be serious, be unfortunate/unlucky/unwise/stupid etc. enough to do something, get real, (the) more fool you/him/her etc., if you believe that, you’ll believe anything... more
go do something
spoken
used for telling someone to do something, especially when you are annoyed
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
Ways of encouraging or telling someone to do something: I wish, go for it, don’t hesitate to do something, come on, (do you) understand?, want, go on, be to do something, someone would be well advised to do something, shoot... more
go far
to be successful in what you try to do
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To be, or to become successful: thrive, prosper, succeed, win out, be a roaring success, be/get there, get ahead, achieve, flourish... more
going, going, gone
used by an auctioneer for saying that an object has just been sold
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
Auctions and auctioning: auction, auction, auctioneer, bid, bid up, bid, bidder, bidding, Dutch auction, eBay... more
go it alone
to do something without depending on anyone else for help
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To do something without help: fend for yourself, do something of your own accord, go solo, be alone in (doing) something, do your own thing, stand alone, sink or swim, do your own thing, mind your own business... more
go one better (than)
to do something better than someone else has done or better than you have done before
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To do something well or better than someone else: excel, distinguish yourself, smash a record, shine, trump, cap, make history, upstage, perform, nail... more
go to do something
if an action, event, or situation goes to do something, it helps to do it
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To help something to progress: foster, get past, promote, nurse, assist, nurture, help, make for, advance, contribute... more
go too far
to behave in a way that is unreasonable
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To behave badly: misbehave, kick over the traces, presume, descend to, go too far, relapse, make an exhibition of yourself, try on, have the hide to do something, be at it... more
not go far
1. 1
  used for saying that you cannot buy very much with a particular amount of money
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  Not enough: inadequate, insufficient, scant, derisory, pitiful, miserable, tight, meagre, in short/limited supply, not go far... more
2. 2
  used for saying that a supply of something is not enough
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  Not enough: inadequate, insufficient, scant, derisory, pitiful, miserable, tight, meagre, in short/limited supply, not go far... more
not go there
spoken
used for saying that you do not want to hear about, discuss, or consider a particular subject
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
To refuse to think about, believe or accept something: turn down, ignore, dismiss, shoot down, push aside, spurn, not hear of it, deceive yourself, close your mind to something, put your foot down... more
to go
1. 1
  remaining
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  Remaining or leftover: leave over, remaining, surviving, residual, unclaimed, leftover, behind, over, vestigial... more
2. 2
  not yet done or dealt with
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  Not finished and incomplete: light-touch, unfinished, incomplete, partial, pending, outstanding, superficial, undone, abortive, sketchy... more
3. 3
  if you order food to go from a restaurant, you take it and eat it somewhere else
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
  In restaurants and cafes: à la carte, all-you-can-eat, bill, bill of fare, booth, brown-bag, bus, BYO, cellar, check... more
the way things are going
used for saying what seems likely to happen as a result of what is happening now
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
Certain or likely to happen: certain, likely, probable, probably, guaranteed, sure, good, possibly, expected, bound... more
where does someone go from here?
used for asking what someone can do next in a particular situation, especially a difficult one
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
Ways of asking questions and making requests: anyway, what has/will become of, do with, what’s gotten into someone?, where has someone/something gotten to?, what (has) happened to something, how, just, keep, kindly... more
who goes there?
spoken
used by a soldier guarding a place for asking who is coming toward them
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*
General words relating to army life: base, billet, bust, detail, dog tag, fatigues, fort, garrison, garrison, generalship... more

These are synonyms and/or related words for go in the American English Thesaurus. View synonyms and/or related words for go in the British English Thesaurus.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

vocal fry

a speech habit in which a speaker lowers their voice at the end of a sentence

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go - thesaurus entry

What are red words?

Related thesaurus entries

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

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phrases

as someone/something goes

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

be going to do something

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

don’t go doing something

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

go all out (to do something/for something)

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

go all the way

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

go and do something

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

go do something

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

go far

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

going, going, gone

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

go it alone

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

go one better (than)

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

go to do something

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go*

go too far

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not go far

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not go there

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to go

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the way things are going

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where does someone go from here?

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who goes there?

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